Lock



DQS. 13, 193g. v A. W MlLLER 2,139,842

LOCK

Filed Feb. 13, 1937 FIJ, 5 4/ /Zg H 0T 22 /Z- /2 INVENTOR BY #AD/WM //V/.am

@a/MW.

l ATTGRNEY Patented Dec. 13, 1938 UNHTED naar 12 Claims.

This invention relates to locks of the cylinder and tumbler type.

One object of the present invention is to provide a springless lock of the type mentioned.

Another object is to provide a lock of the type mentioned in which the tumblers are positively actuated in both directions.

Another object is to provide a lock of the type mentioned in which the tumblers are actuated by lateral displacement of the key.

Another object is to provide a lock of the type mentioned having a locking tumbler which is releasable only upon positive and accurate positioning of a, plurality of independently moveable tumblers.

Another object is to provide an improved lock of simple and inexpensive design which shall be substantially proof against picking.

In the accompanying drawing:-

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of a tumbler lock; constructed in accordance with the present invention, illustrating the position of the tumblers when the key is inserted.

Fig. 2' is a similar View withvthe key removed.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig, 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a face View of a tumbler.

The lock shown comprises a core or cylinder Ill tted for rotation in a stationary cylindrical 35 housing II. At its forward end the cylinder I 3 is enlarged to form a head or disk I2 which covers the forward end of the housing and which is slotted, as at I3, to receive a key I4. Rotation of the cylinder II] in the housing is preferably 40 limited by appropriate means, such as an integral stop lug i5 which projects into an arcuate recess I 6 formed in the end face of the housing.

The rear end of the cylinder is provided with a reduced cylindrical portion I1 which projects through and beyond the rear end of the housing and which carries the usual eccentric lug I8 by which a lock bolt, switch element, or the like, may be actuated by rotation of the cylinder. The portion Il is also provided with a slot I9 aligned with slot i3 in the head to accommodate the end of the inserted key.

The cylinder I3 is removably retained in the housing II by appropriate means, such as a dished resilient washer 2D which is interposed. and compressed between the end face of the (Cl. 'l0-362) housing and a transverse pin 2l removably fixed in the reduced end I'I of the cylinder.

The cylinder Ill carries a plurality of substantially flat parallel tumblers 22 and 22 spaced apart longitudinally of the cylinder and individually guided for reciprocation by and between the grooved parallel side walls of a slot 23 which extends diametrically through the cylinder. The housing I I is provided with top and bottom openings 213 and 25 adapted to register with the slot 23 in the cylinder Ill when the cylinder is in the position shown and into which the ends of the tumblers are projectable. Movement of the tumblers is limited in one direction by shoulders 25, each formed on one vertical edge of each ttunbler and coacting with mating shoulders 2l formed in the cylinder. When in this limiting position the lower ends 28 of the several tumblers project into the lower opening 25 of the housing, as indicated in Fig. 2, in a manner to lock the cylinder against rotation in the housing.

Each of the tumblers is provided with a keyway 29 normally aligned with the slots I3 and I9 in the cylinder to admit projection of the key therethrough. The width and depth of the keyways 29 in the several tumblers are preferably substantially uniform, and the keyways are preferably equally spaced from the lower ends of the tumblers, although the length of the tumblers above their respective keyways preferably differ.

The shank of the key I4 has an edge 3U of irregular contour which coacts with the upper edges 3| ofthe several tumbler keyways to lift the tumblers clear of the opening 25 in the housing, when the key is inserted, the key also having a straight lower edge 32 which coacts with the lower edges 33 of the several tumbler keyways to again lower the tumblers upon removal of the key.

In the lock shown, this lifting and lowering of the tumblers is effected by lateral or edgewise shifting of the key, provision being made for automatically and positively effecting such key movement upon insertion and withdrawal of the key to and from the lock. For this purpose the head of the key is fashioned to provide an inclined edge portion 34 for coaction with a similarly inclined or flared portion 35 of the slot I3, and the leading end of the key shank is fashioned 50 to provide a similarly inclined edge portion 36 for simultaneous coaction with a similarly inclined or flared portion 3l of the slot I9, these inclined parts serving as cams to positively lift the key shank in a direction parallel to itself as the key approaches the end of its movement into the lock.

It will be understood that, as the key is inserted, its shank projects freely through the Several tumblers without materially disturbing the same until it approaches the end of its inward movement, whereupon it lifts all of the tumblers simultaneously by its own positive and direct upward movement. This arrangement eliminates the wear so commonly experienced in other standard locks wherein the tumblers are ordinarily spring pressed against and ride upon the irregular edge of the key as it is inserted and removed.

In order to effect a positive lowering of the key shank as the key is withdrawn, an inclined groove 38 is preferably provided in the side of the key shank which extends parallel to the inclined edge 3G and which is positioned to receive the end of a pin 39 in the slot I9 as the key approaches the end of its inward movement. This -groove 38 coacts with the pinv 39 to depress the shank as the key is withdrawn. Y

Any one or more of the several tumblers may have a keyway specially fashioned to require the use of a key shank having some particular or peculiar contour in transverse section. In this instance one of the tumblers: 22 is specially formed with a projection 40 on the lower edge 33 of its keyway which prevents entry of any key therethrough except one having a` special groove 4| formed in its shank. Likewise various other special forms of keyways may be provided in the tumblers of various locks in order to require the use of other special forms of key blanks therewith. In this way a wide and effective variation in locks may be had bysimple variations in the form of the tumbler keyways. Y f

The lock shown also includes an additional tumbler which is moveable to releasably secure the Cylinder l5 against rotation in the housing l I and which is controlled in a manner to require accurate positioning of all the tumblers 22 and 22 before the cylinder I6 is released for rotation. In this instance the additional tumbler is in the form of a bar 42 which extends lengthwise of the cylinder IE! and which is laterally moveable in a recess 43 provided in the side of the cylinder. The recess 43 extends into the main tumbler slot 23 in the cylinder so as to permit engagement of the bar 42 with the several tumblers 22 and 22. The bar 42 is supported preferably throughout .its length by a flat plate-like shank 44, integrally connected to the bar between the laterally projecting sides of the latter, the shank 54 being fulcrumed at its lower edge bya rib formation 45 rockably seated in an appropriate groove 46 formed in the cylinder.

That side of the bar 42 which projects inwardly toward the tumblers is specially shaped to enter and t special formations in the edges of the tumblers. In this instance the inner projecting side of the bar is longitudinally slotted, as at 4l, to form two spaced projectingribs or tongues 4S and 49, and the edge of each of the several tumblers 22 and 22' are provided with two notches 5i! and 5l adapted to receive the tongues i8Y and 49, respectively, and with an intermediate tongue 52 adapted to enter the slot 'il of the bar. It is of course understood that the bar 42 cannot enter any of the tumblers 22 and 22' until all of them are so positioned as to accurately align the notches and tongues thereof relative to eachother and relative to the tongues and slot of the bar. The notches and tongues are variously positioned along the edges of the several tumblers 22 and 2,2

and cannot be brought into proper alignment except by insertion of a key whose irregular edge 3E) is of particular contour.

The inner wall of the housing ll is provided with a longitudinal groove 53 adapted to receive the outwardly projecting side of the bar 42, when the cylinder l El is in the position shown in Fig. 5, and until the several tumblers 22 and 22 have been positioned, by insertion of a proper key, to admit entry of the bar 52 thereinto, the bar remains engaged with the groove 53 and thereby prevents rotation of the cylinder iii in the housing. Fig. 5 illustrates the locked position of the cylinder lil and of the bar ft2.

. To release the cylinder l@ for rotation a proper key isV inserted which lifts the several tumblers 22 and 22 from the Fig. 2 position, wherein, they are vengaged with the opening 25 in the housing Il,

intoY the position of Figs. 1 and 5, wherein they clear the opening 25, and in which latter position Vtheir respective notches V52. and 5l and tongues 52 are aligned and registered with the tongues 48 and .19 and groove 4'?, respectively, of the bar. The cylinder l@ is then free to rotate clockwise (Fig. 5) under turning action of the key, the bar i2 being able to enter the tumblers and being rocked thereinto and out of the groove 53, as the cylinder is rotated, by the inclined cam `surface 52 constituting a side wall of the groove 53. The cylinder may thus be rotated into its other limiting or unlocked position, in which position the bar i2 may again withdraw `from the tumblers into a second longitudinal groove 55 provided in the inner wall of the housing. This withdrawal of the bar 42 releases the tumblers 22 and 22 so that they will not interfere with withdrawal of the key.

The cylinder may be reversely rotated from the unlocked position just mentioned and thus returned to the locked position by reinsertion and rotation of the key counter-clockwise, the bar 42 being forced out of the groove 55 and into the tumblers by the action of a cam surface 56 as the l cylinder is thus reversely rotated.

Provision is preferably made for forcing the bar i2 outwardly into the groove 53 or into the groove 55 as the cylinder approaches its locked or unlocked positions, respectively. For this purpose a pin 5l is provided on the end of the bar 42, the pin projecting into a cam groove 58 formed in the end wall of the housing ll. The cam groove shown is provided with an angularwall 59 adjacent one end thereof which coacts with the pin 5l to force the latter and the bar outwardly into the groove 53 as the cylinder l0 approaches the limit of its counter-clockwise rotation, the cam groove also being provided with an angular wall 52 adjacent its other end which forces the pin 5l and bar 42 outwardly into the groove 55 as the cylinder approaches the end of its clockwise rotation.

From the foregoing it will be noted that a lock has been provided in which all of the tumblers are positively actuated, the tumblers 22 and 22 being moved both upward and downward by direct action of the key, and the tumbler 42 being moved both inward and outward by the cam groove 58. It will also be noted that the required accurate and simultaneous positioning of all of the tumblers 22 and 22', before inward movement of the tumbler bar i2 from engagement with the groove 53 in the housing is possible, renders the lock practically unpickable.

As an additional precautionary measure against picking, each of the several tumblers 22 and 22 are preferably provided with one or more false notches 6| engageable with the bar 42 to lock the tumblers againstv shifting into correct position in the event of unauthorized tampering with the lock. It will be noted that the bar 42 cannot enter the false notch'l far enough to effect withdrawal of the bar from engagement with the groove 53.

The fact that the several tumblers 22 and 22 are individually movable upward from their lowermost positions of Fig. 2 through and beyond the lock releasing positions of Fig. l into the upper opening 24 of the housing yl I, constitutes an additional baffle against successful picking or decoding. A shoulder 62 in the opening 24 and spaced from the cylinder l may be provided to limit entry of the tumblers into the opening 24. Also the fact that the tumblers extend upwardly various distances beyond their respective keyways 29 offers an additional barrier against picking or decoding.

Various changes may be made in the embodiment of the invention hereinabove specifically described without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:-

1. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder rotatable therein, a plurality of tumblers carried by said cylinder and guided for independent movement transversely thereof, said tumblers having key slots for-coaction with one edge of a key to project said tumblers into interlocking relation with said housing and for coaction with another edge o-f a key to withdraw said tumblers from said housing, and means for effecting transverse movement of an inserted key to effect said tumbler movements.

2. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder rotatable therein, a plurality of tumblers carried by said cylinder and guided for independent movement transversely thereof into and out of interlocking relation with said housing, and cam means for positively shifting an inserted key transversely in either of two opposite directions selectively, said tumblers having key receiving slots for coaction with opposite edges of the key to effect transverse movements of said tumblers in response to transverse movements of the key.

3. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder rotatable therein and having a key-receiving recess, cam means for effecting transverse movement in one direction of a key inserted in said recess; means including a projection in said recess for eifecting transverse movement of the inserted key in an opposite direction, and a plurality of tumblers carried by said cylinder and movable transversely thereof into and out of interlocking relation with said housing in response to transverse movements of the key.

4. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder rotatable therein and having a key-receiving recess, means including a pin projecting transversely into said recess for effecting transverse movement of an inserted key, and a plurality of tumblers carried by said cylinder and movable transversely thereof into and out of interlocking relation with said housing in response to transverse movements of the key.

5. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder rotatable therein, a plurality of tumblers spaced axially of said cylinder and guided for independent movement in directions at right angles to the axis of said cylinder, and means for effecting transverse movement of a key inserted into said cylindensaid tumblers having key-receiving slots eiective to positively shift said tumblers into and out of interlocking relation with said housing in response to transverse movements of the key.

6. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder :rotatable therein, a plurality of tumblers spaced'axially of said cylinder and guided for independent movement in direction at right angles to the axis of said cylinder, and means for effecting transverse movement of a key inserted into said cylinder, said. tumblers having key-receiving slots effective to shift saidv tumblers into and out of interlocking relation with said housing in response to transverse movements of the key, at least one of said key slots being specially formed to prevent entry thereinto of a key other than one having a special contour in transverse section.

'7. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder rotatable therein, a plurality of keyoperable tumblers carried by said cylinder and individually moveable therein into and out of interlocking relation with said housing, and an additional tumbler extending lengthwise of said cylinder and rotatable therewith, said additional tumbler being moveable transversely of the movement of said tumblers into and out of interlocking relation with said housing, said key-operable tumblers having edge formations for coaction With said additional tumbler to prevent withdrawal of the latter from interlocking relation with said housing except when all of said key-operable tumblers have been withdrawn from interlocking relation with said housing.

8. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder rotatable therein, a tumbler extending lengthwise of said cylinder and rotatable therewith, means mounting said tumbler to rock about a longitudinal axis into and out of interlocking relation with said housing, and a plurality of key-operable tumblers in said cylinder independently moveable transversely of said first named tumbler to prevent withdrawal of the latter from interlocking relation with said housing except when all of said tumblers have assumed predetermined positions relative to said first named tumbler.

9. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder rotatable therein, a tumbler extending lengthwise of said cylinder and rotatable therewith, means mounting said tumbler to rock about a longitudinal axis into and out of interlocking relation with said housing, a plurality of keyoperable tumblers in said cylinder independently moveable transversely of said axis, and a plurality of projections on said tumbler coacting with said key-operable tumblers to prevent withdrawal of said first named tumbler from interlocking relation with said housing except when'all of said key-operable tumblers have assumed predetermined positions.

10. In a lock the combination of a housing, a cylinder rotatable therein, a transversely moveable tumbler carried by and extending lengthwise of said cylinder, cam means effective to positively shift said tumbler transversely both into and out of interlocking relation with said housing, and a plurality of key-operable tumblers'in said cylinder for preventing withdrawal of said first named tumbler from interlocking relation with said housing except when all of said key-operable tumblers have assumed predetermined positions.

11. In a lock, the combination of a housing, a

cylinder rotatable therein, a tumbler extending lengthwise of said cylinder and rotatable therewith, cam means responsive to rotation of said cylinder for positively shifting said tumbler into and out of interlocking relation with said housing, a plurality of additional tumblers guided for independent movement transversely of said cylinder and normally positioned to prevent Withdrawal of said first named tumbler from interlocking relation With said housing to thereby normally prevent rotation of said cylinder in said housing, and means responsive to the insertion of a proper key in said cylinder for shifting said plurality of tumblers into positions to permit Withdrawal of said first named tumbler from interlocking relation with said housing.

12. In a lock, the combination of a housing, a

cylinder rotatable therein, a plurality of independently reciprocable tumblers guided to move transversely of and in said cylinder, an additional tumbler extending lengthwise of and in said cylinder and transversely moveable into and out of interlocking engagement with said housing, said plurality of tumblers having means coacting with said additional tumbler to normally prevent Withdrawal of the latter from interlocking engagement with said housing, and means responsive to transverse movement of an inserted key for shifting said plurality of tumblers into positions to permit Withdrawal of said additional tumbler from interlocking engagement with said housing.

ARTHUR W. MILLER. 

